As Midwest Slips And Shovels, Mid-Atlantic Prepares For 'Snowquester'

"Flakes are flying in Minnesota and North Dakota, where up to 10 inches of snow has fallen from an 'Alberta Clipper' that is barreling southeastwards across the U.S.," Weather Underground writes this morning.

In Chicago, the Tribune is warning that "the heavy stuff is on its way. Forecasters are predicting 4 to 8 inches will fall on the Chicago area by tonight, with 10 inches possible in some areas, according to the National Weather Service. An inch or more per hour is expected at the height of the storm this afternoon and evening."

The Weather Channel has dubbed this storm Saturn. But The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang blog is among those using the more topical "Snowquester." It writes this morning that for the capital region "this is easily the biggest snow threat we've seen over the past two winters. ... Significant snow accumulations of 3-8 inches are likely (except 6-12 inches west of the beltway). Snow ends Wednesday night with a gradual warming trend Thursday into the weekend."

"More than 1,000 flights have been canceled in Chicago as a fierce winter storm threatens to dump as much as 10 inches of wind-whipped snow in time for the evening commute," the Chicago Tribune reports.